Driver side cam covers hotter

[Jp10468]

I bought a 76 911 about 9mo ago. It had a previous conversion to an sc engine that came partially disasembled in the back seat. Needless to say i bought another sc engine and after removing installing it twice i was able to drive it and shifts great (thanks Peter Zimmerman).

The car had been sitting for an untold number of years though the replacement engine was from a recently junked sc).

I have noticed the Left(driver side) cam covers are over 60 degrees hotter than the right side counterparts. The left upper cams get to about 200f, lower 260f to 310. The right side upper 140f and 160f.

The temp gauge hangs around 160 in line with the ir thermometer.

My question is:
Is this normal? Could the catalytic converter heat give me the higher readings.

The car pulls good until fully warmed up then becomes very sluggish and sputters on acceleration. Funny enough if i turn it off and back on again immediately i can get it to move to the next stop sign. After doing this a couple of times i am able to make it home. I am pretty sure the cd box is bad and worsened by the heat (165 degrees).
I realize there are many causes for this if there is something truly wrong.

I really dont want to remove the motor again unless need be. My plans was to rebuild the first engine then rebuild the secons one.

Thanks. John

[timmy2]

Radiant heat will show up on the IR gun you are using to measure surface temperatures. Especially if you are taking the readings with the car running.
I use a FLIR at work and have been trained how to detect true temps from false readings.

It is reasonable the cat is warming them up some. Internal temps are probably cooler.

If you had a digital thermal probe and a Fluke you could place it in the spark plug area and get a better idea of the true temperatures.

Test your CIS fuel pressures to see if they are in spec, may be part of your troubles. Ignition components (plugs, wires, cap rotor etc.) as well.

Can you backdate your exhaust or do you need the cat for emissions testing?

[Jp10468]

Thanks for the reply. The car needs alot of work to be done on it. Fuel pressures all were minimally acceptable.
Backdating the exhaust is definitley in the cards for the future.
I am too am suspicious of the fuel being too lean on that side of the engine (hunch) and will compare the fuel delivery rate with the other side.
Thanks again